With a namesake from Old Norse mythology, valkyries being a group of maidens in service to Odin who guided the worthy to Valhalla, it was fitting that Valkyrie (Early Voting) fought the good fight on the front end to strike at first asking at Churchill Downs.Her graduation served dually as a coming out party for freshman sire Early Voting as she is his first starter and first winner.Given 7-1 odds for this jump, and with the heavy 7-5 favorite Cardio Cat (Catalina Cruiser) eyeballing her in the gate on her outside, Valkyrie wasted no time contesting the pace after the break through an opening quarter in :23.17. Taking a narrow lead coming off the bend, and with the betting choice breathing down her neck as they entered the straight, the Ken McPeek trainee went on with it as Cardio Cat tried to run her down.Called on for her best in deep stretch, and with her rival still unable to get by, Valkyrie managed to open up a bit on her pursuers in the final strides to win by a clear margin.The victress is the first successful offspring on record for her dam, Vegas Palm, whose first foal is an unplaced colt in Russia named Er Turan (Vino Rosso). That mare has since produced a yearling filly by Midshipman and has a 2026 filly by Charge It at foot. Vegas Palm is a half-sister to SW & MGSP Competitive Speed (Competitive Edge). The third dam is SW & GISP Shop Till You Drop (Thunder Gulch).2nd-Churchill Downs, $88,952, Msw, 4-26, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :51.53, ft, 1 length.VALKYRIE (f, 2, Early Voting–Vegas Palm, by Violence)Sales history: $30,000 Wlg '24 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $52,096. O-Arindel; B-Ashley Hiller (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. ($16.38) goes gate-to-wire on debut for Kenny McPeek in R2 at Churchill Downs.Jockey @decky_cann piloted the 2-year-old daughter of Early Voting.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/mfpqkp87DU— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) April 26, 2026The post Early Voting’s Valkyrie is Valiant En Route to Becoming Sire’s First Winner at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.